Buying The Hamilton Beach Flexbrew: Why And Why Not?

Single-serve coffee makers are great, but what about having friends over? I’m betting brewing several cups of coffee one at a time isn’t what you signed up for.

There’s no need to buy two separate units just yet. The answer to your problems is the Hamilton Beach FlexBrew 2-Way Coffee Maker.

Those of you that like your coffee just right – strength, temperature, and flavor-wise – will adore the single-cup part of this unit. What makes it stand out is the fact that it can act as a standard full pot coffee maker when the need occurs.

So, if you want the best of both worlds (for the price of one), this is the one to consider. On the other hand, if you’re not a fan of single-cup coffee makers, the Hamilton Beach FlexBrew probably isn’t the right choice for you – there are plenty of other coffee makers out there (more on that later).

Here are some important things to consider before you decide to buy this coffee maker:

Is it compatible with coffee pods and ground coffee?

Is brew strength control available?

Does it have an automatic shut-off feature?

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How many serve-size options does it have?

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Is it suitable for travel mugs?

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What about the price?

Hamilton Beach 49976 Flexbrew 2-Way Brewer: The Best Of Both Worlds

Via Amazon.com

The Hamilton Beach FlexBrew 2-Way Brewer is, as the name already implies, a coffee maker made to provide you the maximum brewing flexibility. It’s one of the newest additions to the Hamilton Beach family, a well-established brand in the world of kitchen appliances. What sets it apart from other coffee makers produced under this name is the fact that it not only lets you choose between a single-serve and a full carafe but between using coffee pods and ground coffee, as well. The double feature indeed comes in hand if all you want is flexibility – you’ll know exactly how much and what you brew. However, if you know for a fact that one side of this brewer will mostly be left unused, there are other, more suitable options for you on the market.

Pros:

• It comes with a programmable timer • Automatic pause and serve• Shuts off automatically • Two brew strength options on each side• Suitable for travel mugs

Cons:

• Two water tanks mean double the cleaning • The power cord is extremely short• It takes a bit longer to brew when set on „Bold“

What To Expect: Features And Benefits

Two Water Tanks

The unit comes with two separate easy-to-fill reservoirs, one on each side. Both of these have convenient windows, which lowers the chances of overflowing (or any other type of confusion) significantly. That, however, makes the Hamilton Beach FlexBrew cleaning process a bit more complicated solely because there are two of them. If you want to learn more about cleaning the coffee maker correctly, here’s a great instructional video I found. Hint: there will be a mixture of white vinegar and water included in the process.

Why? Because vinegar is known to battle mold, build-up, and stains efficiently.

Two Brew Strength Options

Via Amazon.com

Both sides offer you the choice between two brew strengths – regular and bold, so you always get what you want at the moment. The desired strength is just a push-button away.

Carafe Features

Programmable Timer – For maximum convenience, you can easily program the brewer up to 24 hours in advance. You won’t have to wake up earlier to make your coffee – just set the timer and a freshly brewed pot will be waiting for you when you get up.

Auto Shut-Off – There’s no need to worry about leaving the unit on; the auto shut-off feature takes care of that. It’s not expected of you to sit beside the coffee maker and wait for it to finish – of course you won’t be around all the time. In cases like this, when you have other things to do around the house, don’t worry – the unit will keep your coffee warm with its two-hour keep warm cycle.

Auto Pause and Serve – If you become impatient while waiting for the pot to fill completely, this feature will allow you to remove it and pour yourself a cup without dripping.

If you’re wondering how to prepare a full pot, the Hamilton Beach FlexBrew Instructions are available online.

Single-Cup Features

Via Amazon.com

Coffee Pods and Ground Coffee – It doesn’t matter if you prefer coffee grounds or K-Cups - the single-serve side of the unit can handle both. Keep in mind that using coffee that is too finely ground might cause the Hamilton Beach FlexBrew filter to overflow.

Suitable for Travel Mugs – Since the cup rest is adjustable, it will suit anything from your standard cup to your travel mug that has up to 8’’ in height.

Hidden Storage Area – You can use the adjustable cup rest as a storage area for K-cup pack holder or the brew basket. To learn the steps to single-serve brewing, read all about it in the Hamilton Beach FlexBrew How To Use section of the manual. You’ll find everything you need to know about it there.

There were instances of Hamilton Beach FlexBrew error message appearing; there are several error codes you can expect (for example, the E08 error code). While there’s no official Hamilton Beach FlexBrew error codes list, you may be able to get some ideas on how to fix it in the instructions.

If you’re one of the unlucky ones that experience some difficulties, and you need some advice on Hamilton Beach FlexBrew troubleshooting, you should consult the user manual.

Wondering What Other Users Have To Say About It?

I know you’re curious about what other users have to say about Hamilton Beach FlexBrew coffee maker.

According to user reviews I’ve read so far, everyone seems to like it. The unit does what it’s supposed to – it acts as a two-way coffee maker and adapts to your current needs, which is precisely why so many owners recommend it to those searching for a new coffee maker.

Hamilton Beach FlexBrew Isn’t For You? Here Are The Alternatives

You think it might not be the right choice for you? Take a look at some of the alternatives:

If you’re a big fan of cappuccinos and lattes, Ninja is your best bet because it comes with a built-in frother. And with all the available single-serve size options, you’ll get exactly what you want every time.

However,it costs twice as much as the Hamilton Beach FlexBrew.

Compared to Hamilton Beach FlexBrew, it offers a much broader variety of brews (Classic, Rich, and Over Ice), as well as signature brews (Cafe Forte and Specialty).

There are six different brew sizes in total, which is more than Hamilton Beach FlexBrew has to offer.

Those of you that are comfortable with spending that much on a coffee maker should check it out.

The Final Verdict

If you like your coffee just right, this Hamilton Beach FlexBrew model could be the right choice – you can choose both brew strength and type of coffee (pods or ground). The biggest advantage is that it offers the best of both worlds; single-serve or full pot – it’s entirely up to you.